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NameSam
Gendermale
Country of OriginEthiopia
Destination CountryUnited Kingdom
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I arrived in the UK with my family at the start of the millennia, age 5 and speaking very little English. During the next 6 years, we lived in 7 different addresses and I attended 6 separate primary schools. Starting secondary school in 2005, a special music comprehensive placed in special measures by Ofsted, only 36% of students achieved at least 5 A*-C GCSEs that year, with classes sometimes having upward of 30 students. The constant transition that characterised my experience of the UK state education system continued: frequent changes of governance and changes to the curriculum seemed ineffectual to improving terrible standards. In short, it wasn't the best environment for learning. Despite this, I gained a well-rounded education and had opportunities to push myself academically, culturally and socially; for instance, a mentoring scheme during my GCSEs which broadened my very limited horizons. Starting my A-levels in 2010 was a transformation - I took up debating, read widely, attended educational events, researched university choices and decided to apply to Oxford for PPE. Before my A-levels, I had no idea what PPE was and knew little to nothing about Oxford. Preparing for applications and interviews with the sixth-form team, I was subsequently offered a place. At university I have been fortunate to study a fantastic course, meet incredibly intelligent people and experience new things - studying broadly, travelling widely and gaining extensive professional experiences such as a placement in Beijing and an IBD summer internship with Goldman Sachs. At Oxford, most of all, I have had the freedom to think. Given my father had to leave home in rural Ethiopia to gain an education, I see studying in the UK as a right that I am privileged to have. Immigrants have dreams and many are successful, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

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